The Treasure Report

The Markets (as of market close February 19, 2021)

The stock market was closed last Monday in honor of Presidents' Day. Equities were mixed on the first day of trading last Tuesday. The Dow advanced 0.2% and the Global Dow gained 0.3%. The remaining benchmark indexes lost value, led by the Russell 2000, which fell 0.7%, followed by the Nasdaq (-0.3%) and the S&P 500 (-0.1%). Prices on 10-year Treasuries plunged, sending yields soaring. Crude oil prices climbed over $60 per barrel for the first time in several months. The dollar inched ahead 0.3%. Market sectors were mixed with energy, financials, and communication services climbing, while utilities, real estate, and health care fell.

The Dow reached a record high last Wednesday, a day that saw the remaining benchmark indexes lose value. Energy led several surging sectors on a day when only industrials, materials, and information technology fell. Yields on 10-year Treasuries continued to climb. Crude oil prices soared past $61 per barrel, and the dollar advanced nearly 0.5%. Inflationary pressures seem to be rising as producer prices advanced 1.3% in January and retail sales surged by more than 5.0%. As inflation nears the 2.0% mark, the Federal Reserve may scale back support and rethink the timeline for raising interest rates.

The Dow couldn't keep its streak of positive sessions alive last Thursday, closing down 0.4% by the end of trading. Overall, stocks plunged to the lowest levels in more than a week, as each of the indexes listed here finished in the red, with the small caps of the Russell 2000 taking the biggest hit, falling 1.7%. The GlobalDow dropped 0.8%, followed by the Nasdaq, which fell 0.7%, and the S&P 500, which sank 0.4%. Money moved to bonds, driving prices higher and yields lower. Crude oil prices dropped, but remained over $60per barrel. The dollar weakened. Among the sectors, only consumer discretionary and utilities posted gains, while energy slumped 2.3% on the day.

Stocks edged higher last Friday, with only the S&P 500 closing the day in the red. The Russell 2000climbed 2.2%, the Global Dow advanced 0.5%, and the Nasdaq inched up 0.1%. The Dow was flat on the day. Materials, energy, industrials, and financials showed strong momentum, each gaining at least 1.0%.Utilities, consumer staples, health care, and communication services fell by at least 1.0%. The yield on 10-year Treasuries climbed higher, while crude oil and the dollar dropped.

Despite a late-week surge, stocks were mixed to lower last week. The Dow and the Global Dow closed ahead, while the Nasdaq, the Russell 2000, and the S&P 500 lost value. Treasury yields rose but the dollar, crude oil prices, and gold fell. Among the sectors, energy (3.1%) and financials (2.8%) led the way, while health care (-2.5%), utilities (-2.0%), information technology (-1.9%), and consumer staples (-1.1%)plunged. Investors seem to be keeping their collective eyes on the prospects of more stimulus and signs of inflation and rising interest rates.

The national average retail price for regular gasoline was $2.501 per gallon on February 15, $0.040 per gallon over the prior week's price and $0.073 higher than a year ago. during the week ended February 12, crude oil refinery inputs averaged 14.8 million barrels per day, which was 27,000 barrels per day more than the previous week's average. Refineries operated at 83.1% of their operable capacity last week.